The year 2025 marks the second decade of Friends of Lake Panorama making a difference throughout the Lake Panorama community by improving existing recreational amenities and developing new ones.
The charity is governed by a volunteer, seven-member board of directors, which held its first meeting Dec. 3, 2013. The board held its 2025 organizational meeting Nov. 11, 2024.
At the meeting, current board members Jackie Wellik and Bill Winkleblack were reappointed to new three-year terms. Other board members are Galen Johnson, Jody Muench, John Muenzenberger, Jan Reinicke and Jim Tibbles.
In officer elections, Reinicke was elected president, Tibbles vice president and Winkleblack secretary-treasurer. Susan Thompson is the non-profit’s executive director.
2024 ushered in the completion of low-impact recreational amenities on Lake Panorama’s south shore. An extensive trails system includes a cross country trail for the Panorama Community Schools. Other amenities now available on the south shore are a disc golf course; fenced driveway to a parking lot with walk-through access to the recreation area; picnic shelter; directional signage; five benches; and 16 bluebird houses.
The current priority is a fundraising campaign to pay for needed improvements at Lake Panorama National golf course. Projects include tee box and driving range renovations and new tee signs and ball washers. Money raised so far made it possible to renovate four forward tee boxes last fall. Based on funds raised between now and next September, additional construction is planned for fall 2025.
Repeats of two successful fundraising events held last year are on the 2025 LPN calendar. A golf outing is Saturday, May 3, beginning at 11 a.m. 20 Men Who Can Cook will be Sunday, Oct. 19, beginning at 4 p.m. More details on both of these events will be available in the coming months.
Tentative plans for a 2025 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball in June are in the works, with a final date to be announced in the spring. At its November meeting, Friends board members agreed a portion of the funds raised at the 2025 Beach Ball will be committed to the LPN golf course renovation effort, while some funds will go to other projects not yet designated.
Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Direct donations can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Donations also can be made by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions.
Details on past, present and future projects is on the Friends website. Friends also has a Facebook page. Those interested in keeping up-to-date about Friends activities are asked to “like” and “share” the Friends page. Those with questions or comments about Friends of Lake Panorama can send an email to staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.